Pietersen ready for exit even if England progress

England head into their World Twenty20 opener against hosts the West Indies here Monday knowing star batsman Kevin Pietersen could leave the squad at a moment's notice.

Pietersen's wife, Jess, is due to give birth to the couple's first child on the weekend of the May 16 final in Barbados.

But whenever she goes into labour, Pietersen has made it clear he will be on the plane to London to be present for the birth.

"As soon as she goes into labour, I'll be off," he said.

"No matter where it is in the tournament, I'll be off - and it's been cleared with the management to do that.

"If I'm in the middle of a match, I'll obviously get off the field and then I'll be on the next plane that flies into London Heathrow.

"The only worry is that I won't be back in time. But I will be back as soon as I can. I'm off as soon as."

England, despite pioneering Twenty20 as a professional sport, have struggled to make much of an impact upon the World Twenty20.

And when they hosted last year's edition they went out in the Super Eight phase after losing to the West Indies in a rain-affected match at The Oval.

Often seen as a batsman's game, Pietersen - out for a first ball nought as England completed an unbeaten warm-up campaign against his native South Africa on Thursday - said shotmakers would have to play themselves in on the generallly slow Caribbean pitches before going for big hits.

"I reckon batters are definitely going to have to be a lot more patient," he said.

"They're certainly not wickets for strokemakers."

Spin could play an important role and England, in Graeme Swann, have one of the leading off-break bowlers currently in world cricket.

Much will also depend on their opening partnership, with England set to field their 16th first wicket pair at this level in Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb who, like Pietersen, were both born in South Africa.

England will find themselves up against a West Indies side who thrashed Ireland by 70 runs in their tournament opener.

And that was without injured captain and star batsman Chris Gayle, who could return on Monday.

"The home advantage will play an important part and once our fans get behind us it really gets us going," said West Indies stand-in skipper Dwayne Bravo.

"I know the next game against England there will be a bigger crowd still and it's always important. We can use to our advantage," Bravo added.

England, who have former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan in their side, will be expected to beat the associate nation.

But having lost spectacularly to minnows the Netherlands in last year's World Twenty20 at Lord's, England will be keen to avoid a winner-takes-all clash with Ireland.